DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0492
of the military affairs of greece.
their quarrel by a single encounter, that by the death of one of them
they might prevent the effusion of more blood. Remarkable instances
hereof we have in Xanthus, king of Bceotia, who, challenging the king
of Attica, was slain by him, and so ended a dangerous war between those
states (1) ; and in Pittacus, the famous Mitylenian, who slew Phryno the
Athenian general in a single combat Ancient histories are full of such
examples, as likewise of wars happily concluded by a small number com-
missioned by mutual agreement to decide the controversy. The Lace-
daemonians furnished us with one memorable instance in their Wars with
Argos about the title to Thyrea, which was determined by three hundred
on each side. Nor was the conclusion of tfie war between the Tegeans
and Pheneans, two small states in Arcadia, less remarkable, being effect-
ed by a combat of three brothers on each side (2), all the circumstances
of whose story run exactly parallel to that of the Horatii and Curiatii, so
famous in Roman histories. The eastern countries were acquainted with
the same custom, as may appear from Goliath's challenging the Israelitish
host to give him a man to right with him, and the flight of the Philistines
upon David's victory over their champion.
CHAP. X.
of their sieges, with the most remarkable of their inventions,'an i>
engines used therein.
There ,are no footsteps of any siege among the primitive Grecians :
their cities were not fortified with walls, but lay open to all invaders ;
and their inhabitants, once vanquished in open field, became an easy
prey to the conquerors. Wherefore, it is not to be wondered that the
people of those times enjoyed no fixed and settled habitations, bat fre-
quently removed from one part of the country to another, being forced
to quit their seats whenever they were coveted by a power superior to
their own (3).
This moving and unsettled condition, wherein they continued for some
ages, caused them to attempt several methods to secure themselves : some
built their cities upon the tops of inaccessible rocks andmountains, whence
they could easily repel a greater force of enemies : others, whose situa-
tion was not so defensible, were driven to seek other ways for their safe-
ty ; till at length, some heads of no vulgar understanding, brought forth
an amazing contrivance, to inclose their houses and possessions within
walls. This, at first, was looked on as a work so wonderful, so far above
human capacity, that the gods were frequently called from their blessed
mansions to undertake it. The walls of Troy (to mention no more)
were of divine workmanship, and raised by no meaner persons than Nep-
tune and Apollo : but if mortals had the happiness to project and finish
so great a design, they seldom failed of being translated to heaven, and
having their names enrolled among those exalted beings, to whom they
were thought to make near approaches, whilst on earth.
(J) Vide Archeeolog;. nostr. vol. i, cap. 20. in (2) Piutarchus Paralleli?.
A-jrctTsojo. (3) ThncyrFides initio lib. V
their quarrel by a single encounter, that by the death of one of them
they might prevent the effusion of more blood. Remarkable instances
hereof we have in Xanthus, king of Bceotia, who, challenging the king
of Attica, was slain by him, and so ended a dangerous war between those
states (1) ; and in Pittacus, the famous Mitylenian, who slew Phryno the
Athenian general in a single combat Ancient histories are full of such
examples, as likewise of wars happily concluded by a small number com-
missioned by mutual agreement to decide the controversy. The Lace-
daemonians furnished us with one memorable instance in their Wars with
Argos about the title to Thyrea, which was determined by three hundred
on each side. Nor was the conclusion of tfie war between the Tegeans
and Pheneans, two small states in Arcadia, less remarkable, being effect-
ed by a combat of three brothers on each side (2), all the circumstances
of whose story run exactly parallel to that of the Horatii and Curiatii, so
famous in Roman histories. The eastern countries were acquainted with
the same custom, as may appear from Goliath's challenging the Israelitish
host to give him a man to right with him, and the flight of the Philistines
upon David's victory over their champion.
CHAP. X.
of their sieges, with the most remarkable of their inventions,'an i>
engines used therein.
There ,are no footsteps of any siege among the primitive Grecians :
their cities were not fortified with walls, but lay open to all invaders ;
and their inhabitants, once vanquished in open field, became an easy
prey to the conquerors. Wherefore, it is not to be wondered that the
people of those times enjoyed no fixed and settled habitations, bat fre-
quently removed from one part of the country to another, being forced
to quit their seats whenever they were coveted by a power superior to
their own (3).
This moving and unsettled condition, wherein they continued for some
ages, caused them to attempt several methods to secure themselves : some
built their cities upon the tops of inaccessible rocks andmountains, whence
they could easily repel a greater force of enemies : others, whose situa-
tion was not so defensible, were driven to seek other ways for their safe-
ty ; till at length, some heads of no vulgar understanding, brought forth
an amazing contrivance, to inclose their houses and possessions within
walls. This, at first, was looked on as a work so wonderful, so far above
human capacity, that the gods were frequently called from their blessed
mansions to undertake it. The walls of Troy (to mention no more)
were of divine workmanship, and raised by no meaner persons than Nep-
tune and Apollo : but if mortals had the happiness to project and finish
so great a design, they seldom failed of being translated to heaven, and
having their names enrolled among those exalted beings, to whom they
were thought to make near approaches, whilst on earth.
(J) Vide Archeeolog;. nostr. vol. i, cap. 20. in (2) Piutarchus Paralleli?.
A-jrctTsojo. (3) ThncyrFides initio lib. V